The meeting took place on Thursday in Havana and was confirmed by both sources in the CIA and the Cuban government, Reuters reports. An anonymous US intelligence official said that Ratcliffe brought a signal from US President Donald Trump to the island's authorities. The White House announces serious involvement in economic and security issues only if changes are implemented in Cuba.
According to Reuters findings, earlier the head of the CIA has not visited Havana since 1953, that is, since the victory of the revolution that led to the establishment of a communist regime on the island.
CIA and Cuban intelligence
The Cuban government announced in a statement that both delegations expressed their will to strengthen contacts between law enforcement services. According to the Cuban side, cooperation is intended to serve both the security of both countries and stability in the region and in the world.
On the Cuban side, the meeting was attended by Raulito Castro, grandson of former leader of state Raul Castro, and a representative of the Cuban secret services, Minister of Interior Alvarez Casas, as well as the head of the island's intelligence services. Cuban government he convinced his interlocutors that Cuba did not pose a threat to US national security. According to Cuban officials, the talks confirmed that there are no grounds to keep the country on the US list of “states sponsoring terrorism.”
Offer of help for Havana
On the same day, the head of Cuban diplomacy, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, announced that his country is ready to consider an offer of humanitarian aid from the United States in the amount of USD 100 million. At the same time, the minister pointed out that an important signal would be loosening the restrictions imposed on the energy, economic and financial sectors. The Cuban diplomat pointed out that the US administration has tightened these restrictions in recent months.
In January, the US introduced a ban on imports of crude oil from Venezuela to the island. The American administration also announced the introduction of tariffs against any country that decides to supply fuel to Cuba.
